The Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) has announced the categories for its seventh edition. The Award retains its status as offering the richest prize pool among international photography competitions – this year the total is $424,000, including a Grand Prize of $120,000.

As before, there are four categories: the main one has ‘The Moment’ as its theme. There are also ‘General’ and ‘Portfolio’ categories; and new this time is a video-only category called ‘Time-Lapse’.

In another change to previous years, the Grand Prize Award won’t be restricted to the main theme ‘The Moment’. It could go to any entry from any of the categories.

The HIPA Secretary General, HE Ali bin Thalith (left), said the new ‘Time-lapse’ category aimed to broaden the Award’s base to include “all creative visual artists”, not only photographers. “At HIPA, we always aspire to expand our reach within the arts community, and feel that through this unique opportunity we will connect with a larger group of talented creative artists.

“Likewise, the move to open our Grand Prize Award to any submission in the seventh season of competition will no doubt increase competition amongst photographers taking part and push them to submit their best photographs in any category they enter.”

The categories:

The MomentSubmissions are expected to be images of “an unforgettable moment that can alter reality, or possibly even change history”. Prize money ranges from $25,000 for first place to $10,000 for fifth.

Portfolio A series of photographs that tells a story and allows the photographer to capture hearts and minds in a way that may not be possible through a single image. Prizes from $15,000 for first to $6,000 for fifth.

General This section for photography that doesn’t fit into the other categories on offer regularly accounts for about a third of all HIPA entries. It’s divided into sub-categories for colour and bxw. The top three in each win prizes – $15,000, $12,000 and $10,000.

Time-Lapse This category will accept MP4 submissions between 30 and 60 seconds in length. There’s no restriction on subject matter (beyond the basic constraints about legality, decency and IP ownership that apply to all entries) and despite the name there seems to be no requirement for actual time-lapses. VFX and CGI are prohibited. There are five prizes, from $15,000 for first to $6,000 for fifth.